Improvement in store-shelving



2 She'ets-Sheet'l.

J. U, WRIGHT. Store-Shelving.

No. 210,178. PaltentedNov. 19,1878.

v ATTORNEYS.

NJPETERS, PHOTULIYHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D4 (2 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. WRIGHT, of Lonisville,in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Stand or Counter for Stores; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improved form of counter or shelving for use in stores or shops, for the purpose of holding clothing and other goods, the construction being such that space is economized, the goods more easily protected, better displayed, and more conveniently accessible, and may also be more quickly removed in the case of fire, &c., than when placed on counters and shelves of the usual construction.

The invention is embodied in a frame or stand having a series of shelves or counters, which are arranged, terrace-like, one above another-- that is to say, the frame is broadest at the base, which. supports the first or lowest counter, and the next supervening counter being of less width, and the upper one of least width. The counters proper are arranged to slide in and out, to allow easy access to the goods for placing them 011 the counters; also for dusting them, and for handling them when exhibiting in making sales, 850. A series of supervening shelves are lso employed, the same being supported on the sliding counters. The drawers in the base have hinged fronts, which are available as steps for ascending the frame. The stand or integral counter is 'designed to be of ornamental and elegant appearance, and to be placed in the middle of the store or shop, or at least removed a sufficient distance from the wall to allow access to and inspection of the goods from either side.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved counter. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, with portions in section.

The rigid integral frame of the counter consists of a broad base, A, narrow top'B, and intermediate part 0, of mean proportion as to width. Said parts B O are supported by pillars a 0. The frame may be double or single terraced; but I prefer it double, as shown in the drawing. The counters or shelves E and F Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 210,178, dated November 19, 1878; application filed August 20, 1878.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. WRIGHT, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN STORE-SHELVING.

of the base A and supervening part 0, re spectively, are arranged to slide horizontally on suitable rollers G, for the purpose of allowing them to be drawn forward when the goods are to be placed on or removed from them; also for allowing convenient access to them for'inspecting, handling, dusting, 850., or for facilitating speedy removal of the goods from the store in case of fire. The counters E F are retained,,when drawn out or forward, by cleats d, attached to the base and part 0. The base counters onshclves E are divided, the frame being double-that is to say, each part or half of the base A has separate counters or shelves, instead of the latter being made of a single length to extend across the base, as the countersF extend across the partG. This construction allows the base-counters E to be separated or shoved apart, to allow the storekeeper or salesman to pass between them, and thus enter the space between the two portions of the base and behind the goods placed on the counters, for the purpose of examining, selecting, handling, and dusting the goods, as occasion may require.

To arrest-the base-counters E when being slid in, I provide a stop, 6, which is a flanged metal plate attached to the front end and under side of each counter. 1

Upon one or more of the several base-counters E, I place supershelving E, upon which goods are to be placed for more effective and elegant display. These supershelves'are detachable, but have lateral arms or projections f, Fig. 1, which engage or come in contact with the pillars 0 when the counters E are slid back to place, and thus prevent the supershelving being carried too far underneath the part 0 F.

In the base A are drawers I, which have false fronts K, that are hinged to the fixed or true fronts L, and may be lowered to horiz0ntal position, to constitute steps or supports for use of the salesman in ascendingthe frame or goods-holder, as he is required to do when placing goods on or removing them from the upper counter, B.

The said false fronts K have curved rods M attached, which, when the former are lowered, draw through holes in the true or fixed fronts dust; and, since the goods are not near or immediately in contact with the wall, they are not liable to injury from dampness.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The store or shop counter composed of a rigid frame, whose horizontal parts A B O are of different lengths, and placed one above another, and the sliding shelves E F, as shown and described.

2. The double frame, having a space between the base portions A and the separate sliding counters E,combined substantially as shown and described. W

3. The combination of the removable supershelving, having the lateral projections, with the sliding counters and the fixed pillars c of the frame, as shown and described.

JAMES OHIDZY WRIGHT. Witnesses:

GRANT GREEN, W. M. BENT. 

